Hugs around for Dr. Samuels: Longtime physician honored for nearly 40 years of service

Monday

Feb 4, 2013 at 3:15 AM

By Andrea Bulfinchabulfinch@fosters.com

DOVER — Standing among a crowd of adoring patients as Dr. Bruce Samuels entered a surprise retirement party in his honor, Marion Eastwood waited patiently with her walker steadying her stance for the one thing she never left without in the more than 20 years of appointments at his office where she sought his care: a big hug.

Samuels nearly 40-year-career as a rheumatologist and internist at Strafford Medical Associates (SMA) and Wentworth Douglass Hospital was honored Saturday evening at The Oaks in Somersworth with a surprise retirement party organized by his wife, Linda. More than 160 colleagues, patients and friends who shared memories of their journey together and who had burst into singing “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” upon his entrance surrounded him for the evening.

To say he had become a favorite doctor of many is an understatement.

“He wasn’t only my doctor. He was my friend. A very dear friend,” Eastwood said.

Her granddaughter, Debbie Bernard, said she’d been hearing stories about Samuels since she was a little girl.

“You could talk to him. You could fool with him. And If you wanted to do a little cussing, you could with him,” Eastwood, who held on tightly to her invitation for the event displaying a picture of the man who’d changed her life for the better, said.

“I waited tonight for a long time for a hug,” she said.

His departure from practicing brought her, and many others, to tears Saturday. She is among a hefty number of patients who said they’ll miss Samuels, for some the only doctor who could help them.

“If it hadn’t been for him, I don’t know ...” longtime patient Anita Landry said. She told Samuels that when he retired she wanted him as her own personal doctor.

Her mother, Eva Croteau, had also seen Samuels.

“He could tell her anything and she’d do it. He used to tell her, ‘If you pray for me, I’ll take care of you,’” she said.

Blanche Therrien said she saw Samuels for 25 years as her rheumatologist and doctor of internal medicine.

“I thought of him — and still do — as a very gifted doctor,” she said.

Like others, she had stayed with Samuels not just for his knowledge in medicine, but for what he offered to all his patients — compassion.

“He’s a very kind person. And I wish I could still have him,” she said.

Like Landry and Eastwood, she said she’ll definitely miss him.

“Very much so. But I hope he enjoys retirement,” she said.

Paula Tsiorbas saw Samuels as her doctor for about 10 years.

“I just adore the man,” Tsiorbas said.

He had helped her tremendously in dealing with rheumatoid arthritis.

“I think I might have been one of his younger patients because he used to call me ‘kid,’” she said.

As guests mingled and recalled their memories of their experiences with Samuels, the line for one of his famous hugs remained steady at the front of the room where Samuels greeted each person with a warm and genuine smile.

When asked what was running through his mind as so many familiar faces surrounded him and a brilliant career came to a close, Samuels said it was the people he’d met along the way.

“Just that there are so many people that you make such deep relationships with,” he said, still in awe that the gathering was all for him. He’d thought he was attending an anniversary party for friends Saturday evening.

Samuels said he didn’t have much planned for his retirement just yet and that the idea of planning something to do was a bit novel since he’s always been so busy practicing. Being able to not do anything for a while would be new to him.

“And to feel life outside of medicine will be interesting,” he said.

His partner at SMA for 35 years, Dr. Tom Decker, described him as being one of the best doctors he’s ever worked with.

“He’s bright, compassionate, and innovative,” Decker said, calling him the best colleague anyone could possibly imagine.

Dr. Joseph Graciano began working at SMA a month before Samuels had in 1975.

“We had many good times over the years,” he said. “And he’s very well practiced in medicine.”

During an hour or so of guests passing a microphone around to those who wished to speak, Decker also broke out in song, a “tribute to working men” song.

“He practiced his craft to wide acclaim, all north of Boston knew his name,” he bellowed during the four-verse tune.

Speaking toward Samuels, he teared up at the thought of his partner leaving their practice where he said everyone who had entered it responded to Samuel’s warmth.

“God willing we’ll always be good friends for a long time to come,” Decker said.

Continuing what had come to be a signature of the evening, and of his entire career perhaps, Samuels stood and hugged each person who spoke.

Taking the microphone himself, Samuels said hearing everyone’s words had been very moving and regaled guests with how he came to practice medicine in New England following some years being drafted into the service.

“There’s nothing I could have done that would have been more satisfying,” he said.

As he turned the microphone off, and before he could return to the seat beside him, a line began to form again for those still wanting a big hug from their friend.